Ethnoveterinary practices among sheep rearers in Ona-Ara Local Government of Oyo state, Nigeria

Abstract

A questionnaire-based survey was conducted to generate data on ethnoveterinary practices used for maintaining the health and curing diseases of sheep in Ona - Ara Local Government, Oyo State, Nigeria. Information was collected from fifty two indigenous sheep rearers using direct observation of household and interview with key informants with the aid of questionnaires. The data were analysed using simple descriptive statistics to generate frequencies and percentages. Demographic characteristics of the respondents show that 57.7% were males while 42.30% were females, 57.69% household sheep owners used extensive system of management while the rest used semi-intensive system. Major causes of losses were diseases and predation. About 7.69% used purely local concoction in solving the problem of ectoparasites and diseases and those who used local remedies claimed to have gained the knowledge through friends, family, radio, books, extension service and others. Data collected revealed that there is low documentation of ethnoveterinary knowledge among sheep owners in Ona-Ara Local Government and this has been responsible for the low patronage of this useful aspect of veterinary services in addressing challenges and complexities of health problems of the modern period.

Keywords: Ethnoveterinary medicine, Ethnoveterinary knowledge, Nigeria, Oyo State, Sheep